My son's Cub Scout troop toured the Capitol building in Harrisburg over the weekend. I'm sure the building looked impressive to them, with the grand marble staircase, murals and golden chandeliers that weigh as much as an elephant. The sun-lighted dome was stunning.

What I found stunning was our tour guide's tale of the building's history, particularly the circumstances of a fire that destroyed the original Capitol in 1897.

The cause? A faulty fireplace. There's a shock, something that didn't work in Harrisburg, more than a century ago. The guide said our forefathers had been warned not to use the fireplace, but alas, they did anyway and burned the place to the ground.

Rebuilding the Capitol was expected to cost about $4 million. Our guide said it cost about $13 million instead. So the next time you hear about your state politicians spending more than expected, just remember, they are following a well-established precedent.